Shirdi, July 28: During the three-day Hindu festival of 'Guru Poornima', a day of honouring teachers and mentors, the famed shrine to Hindu saint Sai Baba at Shirdi in India's western Maharashtra state collected more than Rs 30 million as donation.
A trustee member confirmed that the donations were greater during the Guru Poornima, as the temple remained open the entire night.
“The organisation has received donations of more than Rs 3 crores (30 million) in three days,” said Eknath Goenkar, Trustee Member of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.
The donation received by the organization includes cash, gold and silver and other items.
“In the cash box here, we have got Rs 1,92,35000 ($ 412,648.15). Beside that we have got gold 277 gram and silver 2818 gram. And from the cash receipts, we have got the amount of Rs 1,20,55000 ($ 258,542.78) as donation,” said Goenkar.
Sai Baba was born some time in the 19th century and is widely regarded all over India as a saint.